Improvement in trucks



I ZSheets-Sheetl. J. VIALL, J. F. TOWNSEND & D. W. HILL.

TRUCK. N .171,451.

Patented Dee. 21,1875.-

.HHIIII-EFJIIIIH.

lrr v ssssw I zfwn/gidggfwt a N. PETERS, FNOTO-UTNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. G.

2Sheets;SheetZ. J. VIALIH'J'. F. TOWNSEND & 11. w. HILL.

V 1 TRUCK; No. 171,451. I 1 Patented Dec. 21,1875.

lNl/EAl-TOR.

l WITNESSES. 1 I

N PETERS. FHOTOLITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. Dv Q UNITED STATES JAMEs VIALL, JOHN F. TOWNSEND, AND DAVID W. EILnoE KEoN, o1a1o.

PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 17] ,45 I dated December 21, 1875 application filed October 26, 1875.

To all whom 2t may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES VIALL, JOHN F.'TOWNSEND, and DAVID. W. HILL, of Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and Improved Combined Turn-Table and Truck for Turning Sewer-Pipe; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

complete description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of the same.

Figure 1 is a side view of the turn table truck. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a view of the front end. Fig. 4 is a view of the truck in a vertical position. Fig. 5 is a view of a sewer-pipe.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views.

The nature of this invention relates to a hand-truck, having, in combination therewith, a turn-table, and the object of which is to turn lengths of sewer-pipe the lower end upward while they are in process .of drying, preparatory to their being burned.

The construction and operation of the turn table truck are as follows: The truck referred to consists of the sides A, handles B, cross beams 0, legs 1), and wheels E. On the front beam of the frame is secured a pair of lifters, F, Figs. 1 and 2, arranged perpendicularly to the face of the beam. Midway the frame of the truck is a broad platform, on which is pivoted the turn-table alluded to, and which consists of the ribs G and end pieces H. Said end pieces are concaved on their inner edge, and are connected to each other by a concave plate of metal, I, which, together with the two ends, form a trough-like structure with open ends, the transverse curve of which conforms to the circumference of a piece of sewerpipe, J, as will be scen in Figs. 4 and 5. The sides Gr, supporting the concave or trough of the turn-table, are supported on a bed-piece, K, corresponding in character to the bed-piece or platform of the truck, to which it is pivoted,

and whereon it turns,

In the manufacture of stone sewer-pipe, it is necessary that the pieces of pipe be stood up on end in order that they may dry, preparatory to being burned; To this end they are placed on a single platform, L, supported on cleats, that it may be above the floor, as will be seen in Fig. 5, in which J is the pipe,L the platform, and M the cleats. Said cleats are also indicated by the dotted line a, Fig. 2.

Pipes when thus stood upon their ends after a short time become larger at the bottom, in

consequence of the settling down of the plastic clay from above. This enlargement of the lower end necessitates their being turned the bottom-end up, thus causing the plastic material to settle back into the upper part of the pipe, which at this time is now at the-bottom, thereby correcting the unequal diameter of the ends of the pipe. This turning of the pipe has to be done frequently before they are sufficiently dry to stand without settling, so that they can be placed in the kiln. To do this turning of the pipe is a work of much labor, and more particularly so when the pipe is of large size, which, in consequence of its great weight, requires several men to accomplish, which they do by turning itdown upon its side and then lifting it again to an erect position. In this way of reversing the position of the pipe it requires much care to save the corners of the end from being compressed, which they often are. To avoid this injury to the pipe, and to turn them with less labor, is the purpose of this invention. To this end the truck and turn-table are turned up to the position shown in Fig. 4. This brings the arms or lifters F upon the floor, which are then pushed under the platform M between.

the cleats. The trucks are wheeled close up to the pipe, thereby bringing the pipe into the concave of the turn-table, as will be 'seen in Fig. 4. The handles of the truck are now taken hold of, and by pulling thereon the pipe is raised by the lifters, and held upon the table, while the truck and table are brought down to the position shown in Fig. l, in which the dotted lines indicate the pipe lying in the turn-table. The'platform L is now removed, and the table can now be turned half-way round, bringing the upper end of the pipe to the lower end of the truck, as indicated by the dotted lines o in Figs. 2 and 3. The table having been turned, thereby reversing the position of the pipe, the platform is then replaced, and the truck again turned up to the position shown in Fig. fl, thereby bringing the platform upon the H001", and the pipe thereon bottom-end up.

By the above-described means heavy pipe can be easily and quickly handled either for reversing their standing position, or for changing their location without bruising them, or in any way doing them injury. The turntable is so fitted in the sides of the truck that it can he slid longitudinally therein, so that it may be adjusted near to or away from the lifters F, as the length of the pipe may require, so that it may properly balance on the turn-table.

I am aware that aprons of leather, or similar material, have been heretofore used; but I employ a sheet-metal apron, as it, being rigid, does not allow the pipe to bend when being turned or handled.

What We claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with the truck, constructed as herein described, the turn-table consisting of the sides G, ends H, and sheet-metal trough I, substantially in the manner as de- JAMES VIALL. JOHN F. TOWNSEND. DAVID W. HILL.

Witnesses:

ALMON BRoWN, DAVID E. HILL. 

